The classic country show Hee Haw may be coming back to television, thanks to Ryman Hospitality Properties.
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Hee Haw was the legendary series that brought laughs to viewers all over America from 1969 to 1992. The pickin' and grinnin' variety show was cofounded by producer Frank Peppiatt, and was truly one of a kind. But if you're one of the many country lovers who miss the show, you might just be in luck. Ryman CEO Colin Reed told the Nashville Business Journal that the company is seriously considering bringing it back.
"We think humor around country [music] is a good thing," he said. "We want to be in the content-distribution business and communicate country music and humor to people who don't see this stuff."
Reed's goal with the remake would be to bring more tourism to Tennessee by jumping off the explosive success of the TV show Nashville. They're trying to expand the popularity of country life by reimagining the show and possibly even a launching a Hee Haw play to run in New York City.
When Hee Haw was on the air, country's biggest names often stopped by Kornfield Kounty for appearances. Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Dolly Parton and more all performed on the show but the list goes on. Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Grandpa Jones and Minnie Pearl were also some of the show's seasoned regulars.
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The show was filmed in Tennessee, and broadcast by RFD TV. The original cast by and large went by their real names. Musician Kenny Price was called the "round mound of sound". Cast members Archie Campbell, Junior Samples and Gordie Tapp provided some of the comedy, while Lisa Todd and Gunilla Hutton were just two of the buxom "Hee Haw Honeys" along with Lulu Roman of the recurrent skit "Lulu's Truck Stop."
There are plenty of possibilities for this potential remake. Blake Shelton could crack jokes in the cornfield and Brad Paisley could co-host a laugh-in. Dolly Parton could make her return for another performance of "Jolene." Brett Eldredge's Snapchat "Bed Head Jams" could even finally have the large stage it deserves. Good times.
Who would tell jokes on your ideal Hee Haw return and who would you like to see perform? Let us know in the comment section below.
